Report Shows Marriage Equality Would Earn NY $391 Mil

The State Senate's Independent Democratic Conference has released a report showing that marriage equality in New York state would generate $391 million in economic activity, revenue, and savings during the three years after it is made into law.

Using what the group deems as 'conservative estimates', their report, titled "For Love or Money?: The Economic Impact of Marriage Equality in New York", finds that 21,309 gay and lesbian couples living in New York would get married within the first three years of marriage equality. The report predicts 3,308 couples from surrounding states, that do not have marriage equality laws, would choose to be wed in New York, and that 41,907 other out-of-state gay and lesbian couples would travel to New York for a “destination wedding.”

The IDC estimates this influx in marriages would earn the state $283,810,725 in wedding revenue and tourism, $3,792,400 in marriage license fees, $22,704,858 in sales taxes, and $259,669 in NYC hotel occupancy taxes for a total of $310,567,652 in new state revenue and economic activity.

Many same-sex couples, by virtue of getting married, would also become ineligible for state public assistance programs, creating an additional $80,848,457 in state budget savings.

Combined, the "positive impact of marriage equality" in New York is $391 million.